Threatens to kill someone for eyeing Poppy and actually kills someone for being mean to her* AND *talks smut all the time and says "I want you, Poppy" at least a hundred times* and yet I’ll simply make a list of the pros and cons. I'm feeling too lazy to write comprehensible paragraphs. Retribution is yours, if you want it,” he said. “And if not, I will be your blade, the thing that ends his miserable existence. It’s your choice.” Biggest disappointment in this entire book for me. If you’ve read my review for the first book (which I loved) then you’ll remember that I absolutely ADORED Poppy and that I found her to be one the best female characters that I’ve read in a while because I thought that she was soo well balanced (I explain what I mean by that in my review of the first book). In this book however, it felt like Poppy went from being a three dimensional, well developed character to being someone with one personality trait... which was that she’s violent. Literally. Her threatening to stab or kill someone got old pretty fast and just made me wish that she would show the different facets of her personality just like she did in the first book. That didn’t happen however which left me feeling incredibly disappointed in her character arc. Edited to add: For those wondering...if I do read book three and dislike it, I won't rate it. That wouldn't be fair and I'm not here to hate read just for a trash review.

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Paperback) - Waterstones

But only then because I am going to wait to get book three from the library (like I waited for this one). Honestly, I just couldn't be bothered to actually spend the money finishing this otherwise. I genuinely love Poppy and Casteel, even though they do not communicate enough in my opinion, not nearly enough, I like them as individuals. As I said,” the Prince continued, dragging one long finger over the rim of his cup. “A marriage can only occur between two Atlantians if both halves are standing on the soil of their home, Princess.”Let’s let get the whining out of the way before I can get to the level-headed gushing. AKoFaF is, technically, better than FBaA. Which is only natural, as the tension is already there, the scale is grander, the world is vaster, it’s even smuttier ( and I do not say this lightly because I was murdered), etcetera etcetera, you know how this goes. BUT, while I’m giving both books the same rating, while they are both predictable and I don’t mind, while both are not good at building mysteries in a way that it makes sense before unravelling, FBaA was a fave (an all-time fave) and AKoFaF was not. Why? holy boredom, Batman. The first 67%+ of this thing was so tedious. SO tedious. It's not so much that I hated it or anything, but more just, well... Poppy’s up in the parapets with her bow and arrow. Casteel is like don’t leave this spot and run if I get hurt. She’s like nah, can’t do that.

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire - Jennifer L. Armentrout

He’s basically like how could you fall in love with Casteel knowing he killed your Vikter?? Hmmm? He’s also like Casteel could have been a son to me if things had worked out with my daughter, Shea. Awk. Alastir just happens to let it slip that Casteel has been engaged before, and it’s a “wound” for him. Thank God for Kieran, though (the only character with half a personality) and the somewhat exciting ending, or I would have given this one star. In fact, it's only because of the ending that I will even consider continuing with this series. I must admit I am curious what will happen. The Tulis family strikes again!! Mrs. Tulis led them to the keep. Girl was upset that Mr. Tulis ended up dead by Casteel, so she told them the Maiden was there. And now Mrs. Tulis is too, because of her betrayal – killed by the Ascended. She wakes up again in the bedroom, and Casteel catches her up on what had occurred, including that he had given her his blood to drink from. She then goes down to the hall to help those that were injured by taking their pain, but before she is able to help them, Casteel shows her that there is a Blood Tree in the exact spot where Lord Chaney kidnapped Poppy, which many people believe is an omen. She then takes away the pain of the people who were hurt in the battle, and afterwards, with Alistair they talk about her abilities. Alistair leaves that night for Spessa’s End, and Casteel tells Poppy that he is in awe of her abilities, after which they pretend to be Hawke and Poppy and share a kiss, with him teasing her. Then he takes her to the dungeon, and they talk to Kieran, who keeps asking Casteel if he’s all right. Turns out that Lord Chaney is in the dungeon, and Casteel gives Poppy the option of killing him, and she does. The group continues on and they arrive at Pompay. The group continues to Spessa's End where they plan to wait for the rest of the New Haven people before going to Atlantia.Poppy’s hanging out with Kieran again – and she’s getting answers. Most do, but only those of the elemental bloodlines have pure golden eyes. What are the elemental bloodlines? Isn’t the rating ultimately about my thoughts and emotions and, besides, can’t it be said that if the issues did not obscure my enjoyment then they don’t truly matter to me anyhow? I believe so, yes. And Casteel wants to send Poppy along with them, but she refuses. She makes a stand that she’s a badass who can stay and defend Spessa’s End. You go girl!